On 16 November, we were excited to welcome over 50 international students from universities and colleges across the UK to join UKCISA Fest 2022 – our annual event for international students in the UK to inform policy and practice through their lived experience.
International students participated in seminars and workshops, alongside sector partners and policymakers, and shared their diverse experiences with like-minded students. From mental health and wellbeing to academic experience and employability, their insights will help us to shape policy to enhance the international student experience in the UK.
We were lucky to be joined by 25 speakers including #WeAreInternational Student Ambassadors, senior sector partners, and UKCISA member institutions.
Our opening plenary focused on putting the international student voice at the heart of policymaking. Workshops offered delegates an opportunity to learn about other people’s experiences and develop individual skills.
“At UKCISA Fest, I learned that as international students, we all experience different variations of the same challenges no matter where we study, and we will always have something in common.”
Jie Fei Lau, #WeAreInternational Student Ambassador
Throughout the day, international students presented new issues that they had dealt with and spoke about their personal, often difficult, journeys. They showed resilience, innovation, and courage in trying to fix the situation for themselves and for others, which stood out to Deepa, who delivered a workshop on where international students can go if they need support.
“What became clear to me was what a strong sense of community there was among international students and how they used their skills and experience to not only advocate for themselves, but also for their friends, classmates, and wider community.”
Deepa Chadha, Advice & Training Officer, UKCISA
As we reflect again on the importance of immigration to the UK, we were proud to celebrate International Students’ Day at our Annual reception 2022. We heard from Tamsin Thomas at Duolingo, Simran Mahajan – our #WeAreInternational Student Ambassador, and Chair of UKCISA’s Student Advisory Group, and Diksha, a Chevening scholar who spoke about her journey to the UK.
“It was exciting to be face to face with so many inspiring international students at UKCISA Fest. International students are at the heart of what we do, so these opportunities to hear directly from them, and be challenged by them, are invaluable. It was wonderful to see so many new connections made, and networks forged.”
Anne Marie Graham, Chief Executive, UKCISA
With thanks to our partners, Duolingo English Test and British Council - Study UK for their generous support.
Take a look at the photo gallery from UKCISA Fest and the Annual reception.
